Metal Revolution Webzine: Content / Interviews / Babylon Mystery Orchestra (USA)

on Wednesday 11 October 2006
by bato
comments: 0

Interview with Allen Sydney
www.babylonmysteryorchestra.com

In the light of the release of “The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity” by Babylon Mystery Orchestra, I managed to grasp the opportunity to ask Sidney Allen Johnson, the only person behind Babylon Mystery Orchestra, some questions about the band/project, new album, music, faith and state of metal music in general. It was one of my absolute all time favourite interviews as this guy is not only intelligent but he was also very talkative…

MR: Greetings Allen! I'd like to first take the opportunity to thank you for taking the time to speak with me on behalf of Metal Revolution Webzine. How's everything going over there?
Allen: Everything here is still hot, but we are about to get into the fall cool down. Things would be a lot better if the University of Alabama's football team had not lost it's last two games. Such things are signs of a world in chaos, spinning toward an inevitable apocalyptic fate. Forget global warming, Alabama losing and Auburn University winning is the real global calamity! We take college football seriously in the south. And by football I don't mean what you Europeans call football. That, we call soccer.

MR: Haha, it’s good to know that. I know you’ve existed for many years now, but would you please be nice and introduce your band and a little bit of your history for the readers of MR zine who are not familiar with your work so far?
Allen: Babylon Mystery Orchestra is a platform for presenting my views of the world around me, as I see it. I truly view the music as a truer expression of "art" than almost anything out there because I do go out of my way not to say what I think people want to hear but instead, what I truly believe. This makes BMO a lyrically driven form of hard rock/heavy metal. That in and of itself will separate it from everyone else, as most bands view their lyrics as disposable and they really are. They just say what they think you want to hear. There is a purpose to each song or I wouldn't write them. I also only deal with serious subjects. It really is that simple and yet it comes off sounding more original than everyone else because heavy metal has become such a conformist form of music. The labels all sign the same bands. Heavy Metal is more of a culture than a music form now. Those who benefit from metal's current malaise have no regard for the music, just preserving their place in its culture. The bands, for their part, will do anything to "fit in." Conform! Conform! Conform! That is metal today. Very few stand against that. BMO is one that resists the conformist's demands. Music must have a purpose....at least for me. BMO has released Three CD's. Divine Right Of Kings which deals with the role of the United States in Biblical prophecy; On Earth As It Is In Heaven tells the story of the birth, life and death of rock and roll......4000 years ago!; and The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy Of Satanic Christianity deals with the history and manipulation of the institutionalized Christian Church. All serious subjects dealt with seriously. The music itself is some sort of hybrid of gothic/doom metal with classic hard rock. The idea is for the music to support and reinforce the words. BMO is not a platform for musician's to show off. Since, thus far, I am the only musician; there hasn't been a lot of arguing over such things.

MR: Thank you. Would you also now be nice and tell us something more about your latest opus The Great Apostasy: A Conspiracy of Satanic Christianity? What is the main concept and where and how was the recording process like?
Allen: The concept is built around the idea, with a biblical foundation, that the church was, from the very beginning, attacked and manipulated by Satan and his principalities and angelic followers. There is much biblical and historic reference as well as a look at such modern elements as pedophile priests, the wonderful controversies (at least here in America) over homosexuality and church leadership. Recording this, like all BMO CD's, is a long and time consuming project. It could be done much quicker if I could devote all my time to just music, but as it stands I have to work at creating the time needed to record it. Once again I think this lends a bit of integrity to the process as you really have to believe you have something to say to go through such an effort to produce these things. I go into great detail in these records and I consider the booklets that accompany the CD an integral part of understanding the whole presentation. If you hear a BMO song separated from the CD itself you might get an entirely different idea of what BMO is about and what the messages really are. I really strive to make the songs work out that way. Its very intentional. I view BMO music as "album" oriented. Almost, in a way, different from how anyone else has ever presented music. I often compare it to the way Martin Luther wrote his controversial opinions in the 1500's. Only BMO is using a musical element to enhance it. I understand that most people don't care about such things in their music, but I do. I make the kind of records I would like to hear myself. The recording process is, as you would imagine, a one instrument at a time process. Usually I put down and arrangement and timing track to build the song around. This track is never heard on the records as they get replaced as the song is built. Then I add main guitars, drums, bass, lead guitar, any keyboards or extra non vocal part and lastly the vocals. Even though in many instances most of the lyrics are written well before. I always know what a song is about before I start making the music for it. I might not have the final title but I write the music around the subject. To me, this is a logical process. I don't have elaborate recording gear. In fact if you saw what I used you might be surprised. But I know what I want BMO to sound like and I can get that sound.

MR: Would you introduce it song by song and maybe tell us what’s your favourite?
Allen: It opens up with "Holy Ghost" which is a nice gothic sounding song about Jesus' promise to send a "comforter" after he has gone. Then we come to "Pentecost" which is about the arrival of this comforter. This seems like a natural birthplace for what we have come to know as the church and these two songs kind of introduce us to the excitement and possibilities of what, at its best, the church (churches?) were meant to be. “Pentecost” is also one of the heaviest and fastest songs on the CD. "I, Lucifer" is an instrumental that sits between the first two songs about the promise of the church and the following songs are about the more diabolical realities. Sort of sounds like gothic/flamenco/ jazz/metal. "Prey for Me" is where the story really takes off. This one is about Satan simply making his mind up, not to destroy the church (he had already failed to do that), but to nurture it for his own purposes. If you can't beat, then join them! "One Way, One Truth, One Life" is a song that laments the overwhelming variety of Christian churches. All with their own set of beliefs. It's one of the mellower tracks. "Church of State" has turned out to be one of the more popular tracks on the CD. A vicious sounding chorus. It is about how in the absence of a religion....the state, itself, becomes a religious institution. "Eye of the Needle" is about two very real and very different church leaders and their takes on homosexuality. The names were not changed to preserve the identity of the guilty! "Wolf in the Fold" is a song about Paedophile priests.....written from their perspective. A very wicked track. "Who Mourns For Philadelphia?" is a sad song bemoaning the fate of the true and faithful church.....Where is it? "King of the Earth" is probably my personal favourite. It encapsulates the whole record into one song. Satan claiming that which is his. The last song "Antichrist Superczar" is in many ways a lead in track to the next BMO CD. It deals directly with the (false) doctrine of the pretribulation rapture of the church. The idea being that The Church is NOT going to be removed from the earth but, in fact, the tribulation itself is her reward for failure to be true to God's word and allowing the Satanic influence. It’s another one of my favourites. I like the way it shifts from heavy and vicious to a nice beautiful ending. That is pretty much a quick synopsis of the CD.

MR: I see. Anything you would have done differently if you could turn back time?
Allen: On this record? I don't really think so. I am quite satisfied with it. There are things I might have done in a real studio, with a bigger budget. But I also like it the way it is. I think there has been a good progression in the evolution of the BMO sound. There is quite a bit of difference between the first and second CD. I possibly would do some slightly different eq'ing on the second one but I am also very satisfied with it. As I said if the situation were altered I might go for more orchestration, bringing in choirs and such but it is probably better that I don't. The limitations placed on you are just as much a contributor to your sound as are your capabilities. And BMO doesn't really sound too much like anyone else. The reason why so many metal bands sound alike is because they do everything pretty much the same way. One template used on everything. If you want to sound different.....be different!

MR: And what about the third song on here titled “I, Lucifer”? Is there a reason or a purpose why this particular song was made to sound so enticingly seductive?
Allen: I wanted to place an instrumental between the first two songs about the church's promise and potential and the songs about the Satanic infiltration. I had the basic structure for that song for well over a year and I knew it would sound a little odd before I started to work on it. Yet as I layered more parts to it, I came to think it was perfectly suited for the purpose I needed. A lot of people have commented on it. Strange that I put so much emphasis on lyrics and an instrumental gets so much notice. Still, it has a fitting title and it does sound seductive and mischievous in equal measure.

MR: I presume that some people may understand album title to be anti-Christian?! Have you received any comments from the non Christian community as misunderstanding the album and assuming that you are bashing the church, religion and Jesus as a whole?
Allen: There are some in the Christian community that don't like the negativism of the record. And it is critical of that pretribulation rapture doctrine that has so enamoured the churchgoing public. However, I really haven't had any of them misinterpret it as "Christian Bashing." Quite the opposite. You have to know quite a bit about Christian theology to even really get all the ideas that are in this record. It is intentionally a very deep work in that regard. It is, I realize, very unusual for something that is often labelled as "Christian music" to actually be critical of Christianity. I don't go around calling Babylon Mystery Orchestra "Christian Music" but I don't mind if others say that. I much prefer for someone else to say it. It seems more honest to me. The non Christian community actually embraces the idea that a Christian is being critical of Christianity. There are a lot of people who are sick of the silly and thoughtless black metal bands that constantly attack something that they obviously know nothing about. Such bands should stick to being pro Satan and leave the anti-Christian stuff alone. They just sound foolish.

MR: Where do you else find inspiration when writing lyrics? What inspires you?
Allen: These records have been in production my entire life. I find the inspiration, literally, everywhere. I have been accused of being able to find the devil in everything and to a great extent that is probably true. There is a great deal of research that goes into these records as well. That is something you won't hear from anyone else in the metal world. Research? That is so NOT metal! It’s true though. I make sure to try to show my points of view and that is probably why the booklets that accompany the CD's are so important to me. If you hear one song by itself you may get any interpretation you like from it. And it may be way different from what the overall project intends. But if you listen to the CD as a whole I want you to know what and why I say these things.

MR: Any favourite bands? What are your lets say all time five favourite albums?
Allen: Favourite Bands? I have a lot of them. I have always been a big KISS fan and have a huge memorabilia collection. I think Therion and Tiamat are the two most interesting bands around today. My Dying Bride as well. I came up on the original metal of the seventies and so I love everything from Blue Oyster Cult through the Hair Metal of bands like Ratt and Motley Crue. I love Manowar and....The Doors! I have thousands of records and CD's so all of it is an influence on me. All time favourite albums.....how about 10? 1. Kiss Alive! (first record I ever bought...still trying to find a better one.) 2. Black Sabbath-Heaven and Hell (Overall, I view the Ozzy era as a disappointment.) 3. Iron Maiden- The Number of The Beast (perfect Maiden record) 4. Therion-Vovin (This I my favourite of theirs...but they are all good) 5. Judas Priest-British Steel (Everything is perfect on this one) 6. Rainbow-Long Live Rock And Roll ("Gates of Babylon"...best Dio song ever!) 7. Aerosmith-Rocks (This is just great American Rock-n-Roll) 8. My Dying Bride-Turn Loose the Swans (such a truly original sounding band) 9. Dio-Holy Diver ( In three different bands RJ Dio manages to prevail) 10. Manowar-Hail To England ( I have always loved Manowar)

MR: What do you do when you’re not making music? Do you have everyday job and what about family and kids etc.?
Allen: No wife. No kids. Never been married. Although I have a cat who acts a lot like a hen-pecking wife. You should see her if I ever dare bring another cat around. I do have an everyday job. I build patterns for making arches and big curves made out of laminated wood. Much of this is used in the construction of ......churches. That’s right. If you want some irony it is there to be found. The man who wrote this conceptual criticism of the Christian Church is, in fact, a participant in the construction of hundreds of them every year.

MR: Ok, what are your plans for the future then? Are you active playing live in support of your latest release or…?
Allen: The current situation of Babylon Mystery Orchestra is such that there won't be any touring any time soon. The truth is I don't know that there ever will be. Certainly the situation would have to change but realistically I know the economics of how most bands exist. It isn't something you can do unless you are already broke and don't have anything. The bands barely generate enough money to survive. Even the ones that you might think are largely successful because they get so much press aren't really. It does serve them right though. There is so much garbage out there being pushed down our throats by these so called "independent" labels that they finally killed the goose that layed the golden egg. Lets face it, in the new Therion DVD package they say that the Mexico City shows were among their biggest ever (non festival) shows. When a band as good as Therion is playing to 4000 people and that is a big show......true metal is dead. You want to save it? Outlaw the double bass drum kit! OK, I'll grandfather in Neil Peart, it's not his fault but let's put a stop to this. Heavy Metal is not supposed to be drum dominant music. You can hide a lot of incompetence behind all that beating. Especially at 200+ bpm! Fast playing does not equal "good musician." Mostly it means "boring musician." Isn't there supposed to be a reason to make music other than just to give a musician something to do? And if a million people buy a record, it's not a bad thing. The metal community needs to get over that too. Sometimes I think the idea is to make music so wretched that no-one can stand it except the "duped" "pseudosupermusicians" in the metal community. From the outside, heavy metal looks a lot like professional wrestling. All these claims as to the "technical proficiency" of these high speed metal croakers has the same validity of someone claiming professional wrestling is "real" and the outcomes not previously choreographed. Intelligent people see through it. The words "False Metal" come to mind. How is that for wandering around on a soapbox to answer a question?

MR: No, I actually agree with you and think that metal is heading wrong way these years. So I guess no chance to see you ever in Europe?
Allen: Well I would like to go there. After the next BMO CD I may have to move there to hide from the Islamofascists! But the economics of the current scene just make it unreasonable.

MR: You mentioned Islamofascists, how are they? Who do you consider to be Islamofascists and do you feel threaten by them?
Allen: The next BMO CD will feature at least two songs directly about the behaviour of Islamic extremists as well as the history of their very warlike conquering "prophet" Mohammed. As you probably remember, there was a cartoonist in Europe who printed a cartoon that depicted Mohammad and certain people of the Islamic extremist variety went on a pillaging spree. These are the same people who wanted to kill Salman Rushdie because his book "The Satanic Verses" depicted Islam in a way they didn't like. These people do not respect the right of free speech. I am very aware of all of this going into the next CD. Perhaps a Heavy Metal record will be of no significance to such people.....but they kill their own kind. They would certainly kill someone else. I have often stated that BMO would go where no one else would dare with its subject material. This will be further proof. It plays an important part of the presentation. I also feel that having also made a fair criticism of my own belief system on "the Great Apostasy" that delving into other religions and how they necessarily interrelate with Christianity is a logical next step. It is not something being done entirely to shock someone or to get a reaction. Though it almost certainly will. Like all things Babylon Mystery Orchestra.....I am very serious about it.

MR: I know very well all this thing about cartoons because they were published in a Danish newspaper called “Jyllandsposten” and the only purpose was to provoke and harm Moslems and I don’t like that. I guess we disagree on this one, but of course you have the right to write and record what you want. What are fans then in store for the next album? Are you in a process of writing and collecting new material or is it still too early?
Allen: Five tracks are finished and I am currently working on a sixth one. It will be the record that pretty well ties up all the other ones. I have said all along that all the CD's are related even if they appear to be self-contained and complete in and of themselves. This one will easily be the most controversial to just about every possible belief system. I have already given a hint that Islam will be featured prominently. Its purpose exposed as part of the biggest conspiracy ever perpetrated against mankind. But it is only a part of it. Satanism (the real kind, not the dimestore {poseur?}heavy metal variety), the illuminati conspiracy, the real mark of the beast, War...lots about war on this one, and the final strike against man for being created by God. I bring it all together in a way that has not been suggested before by anyone. And as always I will do it in great detail. I am really looking forward to finishing it. Look for it in early 2008. A United States presidential election year....coincidence?

MR: Ok, I must say it was pleasure to listen to your latest release as well as talking to you this way and presenting your work to the wider Danish and European audience. Any last words in order to close this interview?
Allen: I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity to do this interview. I really enjoy getting to talk about all these things. I hope anyone who reads it finds it interesting.....even if I made them mad. Babylon Mystery Orchestra will continue to be a vehicle for bringing a unique and controversial vision into the world. It has a purpose beyond its own existence. I would like to see a lot less of the phony "elitism" in the metal community. Rock music is not about "technical proficiency" it never was and never will be. Metal cannot survive cut away from its rock roots.

MR: Thank you, you’ve been great!